Gloria Jeanne (Ferguson) Adkins(1929 - 2018)

Gloria Jeanne Ferguson Adkins diedThursday, June 21, in Kona, HI. Mrs.Adkins was 88. She was born Nov.29, 1929, in Buda, NE, the daughterof Lawrence T. and Rose I. Ferguson.Her father was with the Union Pacificrailroad and the family soon movedto North Platte, NE, where she wouldlive the first part of her life, attendingschool there and graduating fromNorth Platte High School in 1947. Shewas active in the First Baptist Churchthere for many years, leading theyouth group with her husband. Shewas a Blue Bird/Campfire Girl and CubScout leader. She actively participatedin North Platte Community Theater,including a stint as Hand-CarHannah for the Nebraskaland Dayscelebrations.Gloria married James Morris AdkinsSr. on Oct. 5, 1947, on his return fromthe Pacific theater where he servedin the U.S. Navy. The couple livedin North Platte, where Jim was bothcirculation and advertising directorof the Telegraph Bulletin. They alsolived in Idaho, where he worked fora newspaper chainprior to moving toCozad, NE, where heworked as well priorto returning to NorthPlatte. In 1971 thecouple moved withtheir three youngestchildren to Parker,CO., living in bothCastle Rock and Parkersince that time, whenthey went into partnership to ownand operate the Parker Press and theDouglas County News, Elbert CountyPress and Elbert County News andthe Aurora/Southeast Suburban Pressnewspapers with Jerry Brock anddaughter, Jeanne, who later joined thepartnership.All who knew Gloria were blessed bythe beautiful voice God had bestowedon her. Winning state competitionsin high school, she continued in herlifetime to use that gift in choirs,singing at events and nursing homesand singing karaoke. The eveningbefore leaving for a Hawaiian GospelMusic cruise shewas singing karaokein Castle Rock withfriends. The roomwould quiet as themusic flowed throughher and enveloped heraudience. A highlightof her life was beingselected to sing in theRyman Auditorium inNashville, TN, bestknownas the home of the Grand OleOpry.Besides her music, many residentsin Nebraska and Douglas County, COknew her through her weekly column– Coffee With Gloria – which shewrote for many years focused on herchildren, their lives and her expandingnumber of grandchildren. She wasactive in the Castle Rock SeniorCenter, an election judge and caucusparticipant and a member of theDenver First Church of the Nazarene,although she attended New HopePresbyterian in Castle Rock.She is survived by her sevenchildren: Jeanne, Castle Rock; Jim Jr.(Ann), Parker; Janice (Riaz) Vaziralli,Virginia Beach, VA; Jeff (Marsha),Centennial; John (Lori), Coulee Dam,WA.; Jodie Anderson, Castle Rock, andJacquie (Bob) Murphy, Mobile, AL;and daughter-in-law, Michelle, Parker.She is survived by 20 grandchildrenand 42 great-grandchildren and agreat-great granddaughter. Survivorsinclude her brother, Donald Ferguson,Palm Springs, CA; brother LawrenceT. Jr. (Pat), North Platte; and sister-inlawBarbara Ferguson, GreenwoodVillage. Survivors also include manynieces and nephews. She was precededin death by her parents, her infantdaughter, Jeri Maree, her husband, Jim;and her brother, Charles.Memorial services will be 11 a.m.July 3 at New Hope PresbyterianChurch, Castle Rock, CO. The familywelcomes those who wish to sharethe service to a lunch following thememorial service in the church hall.The family requests donations tothe Denver Rescue Mission in lieu offlowers.

Published in Colorado Community Newspapers from July 3 to Aug. 2, 2018